Adding that Chaytor, who earned around £60,000 a year, couldn’t claim poverty as an excuse, he went on: “The expenses scandal has shaken public confidence. It is necessary significant penalties should follow so people realise how important it is for people to be honest with public funds.”

Humiliated Chaytor stared blankly ahead as he was led away before being taken to Wandsworth prison, in South West London.

He is likely to spend two or three weeks there before being transferred to a Category B or C jail.

The former MP can expect to be moved to an open prison after four months and, because of his emotional state, he is a prime candidate to be placed on suicide watch.

Harry Fletcher of probation officers’ union NAPO said: “The chances of him being classified vulnerable are high so he could be kept away from the prison population for most of his sentence.”

The court heard how Chaytor falsely claimed £22,650 for computer support and rent on homes in London and his constituency. Chaytor, of Lumbutts, Todmorden, West Yorkshire, was paid £18,350.

But the truth came out when details of MPs’ expenses were leaked more than 18 months ago.

Chaytor owned the flat near Westminster which he claimed £15,275 to rent and created a fake tenancy agreement using his daughter’s first and middle names to disguise the con.

He tried to claim another £5,425 for renting a cottage in Summerseat, near Bury in Lancashire, but the property was owned by his mother, Olive Trickett.

He also tried to claim £1,950 for computer services which he falsely invoiced to a volunteer in his office.

His lawyers argued his offences were covered by the law of Parliamentary privilege but, when that failed, he changed his plea to guilty before his trial started last month.

James Sturman QC, defending, said Chaytor was a “broken man”, adding: “He accepts he has brought shame on himself, brought shame on his family and brought shame on Parliament.”

Former sleaze watchdog Sir Alistair Graham said: “This was a serious scandal and it’s right MPs and ex-MPs are not seen as above the law.”